Robert R. Church Park on "World-Famous" Beale Street and overlooking the FedExForum is where more than than 40,000 revelers will exist in tune to a slate of entertainers and musicians performing at the three-day Juneteenth Urban Music Festival. Photo by Wiley Henry

By Wiley Henry

MEMPHIS, TN – The Memphis Juneteenth Urban Music Festival is celebrating 25 years of fun-filled, musical merriment Friday through Dominicus, June 16-eighteen, on the grounds of the historic Robert R. Church Park on "Earth-Famous" Beale Street.

Juneteenth, the longest-running cultural festival in Memphis, is the become-to place for eclectic music. This yr, the legendary Barkays is partnering with Juneteenth on June xvi for a night of alive, funk and soul music at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. ConFunkShun, some other local legendary group, will bring together the Barkays in concert. The doors will open up at 8 p.thousand. and the concert will follow at 9 p.m.

"This is the final functioning for Larry Dotson Sr., the Barkays' lead singer," said Telisa Franklin, Juneteenth'south president/CEO. "Juneteenth revelers will miss a care for if they don't get their tickets to see the funk masters in concert."

The masters of funk will pb off with a syncopated beat at the Cannon Center. Music will go along to reverberate throughout the park each twenty-four hour period, where more than 40,000 visitors are expected to attend the three-day festival.

There volition be plenty of entertainment, music, food, games, vendors, a automobile show, play rides, bouncers for the children and much more than, said Franklin, who expects to thrill revelers with a heaping of cultural excitement.

"Later on 24 years of teaching young people, seniors and the entire community about the history of Juneteenth, coupled with three days of fun and excitement in a park setting, nosotros expect this yr's festival to be our crowning achievement," Franklin said.

Ii of the festival's signature events are the Memphis Juneteenth Youth Awards, which commences Thursday, June 15, at 6 p.m., and the Memphis Juneteenth Lifetime Accomplishment Awards, which follows at seven:45 p.k. Both events will be held at the Vacation Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave.

The festival begins Friday and ends Sunday, June sixteen-18, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Each day is Kid's Solar day Out, which coincides with the festival'due south family-friendly mantra. The youth are integral to Juneteenth, Franklin said.

On Saturday, June 17, from one p.yard.-iii:30 p.m., the Youthteenth Majorette Showcase volition unfold, featuring cultural dancing from hip-hop to majorettes to cheer and pulsate lines to the sassy moves by some loftier-stepping seniors.

Sat is jam-packed with other activities too, including the "best of the best" Car Show and a Veterans 5K Walk/Run starting at viii a.grand. and presented by Operation Stand Down Mid-South. Also, during the twenty-four hour period, a 1,000 Fathers March volition accept identify.

Sun, June 18, is the concluding day for Juneteenth revelers and the set-aside day for Praise Fest at Memphis Juneteenth, featuring gospel music, inspirational words, and more. Some of Memphis'southward most talented choirs, artists and historic musicians will take the stage.

"Memphis is a hotbed of talented artists and musicians. The music is known all over the world and an integral role of Juneteenth's platform. That'south why we gloat Juneteenth year after year," said Franklin. "This is our 25th anniversary, which is a milestone in itself."

Juneteenth is a national holiday in the Us, which commemorates the abolitionism of slavery and the freeing of the last African-American slaves in Galveston, Texas, on June nineteen, 1865. The celebration began in Memphis 25 years ago.

Franklin said ever since the onset of the festival, Memphians near and far continue to revel in the music and enjoy the park's family-friendly atmosphere.

"We are upping the ante year after year when it comes to Juneteenth," she said. "The excitement is contagious. Juneteenth is one of the hottest festivals in Memphis. The showtime 25 years is a testament to our commitment and excellence in festival planning."